Off the Cuff / My Other Journal

On Writing: Making Resolutions�Sort of

I’m not too keen on making resolutions, for if I can’t or won’t keep them, I‘ll kick myself forever and ever. On the other hand, resolutions are necessary, and they do help, even if people may falter somehow. Since I equate resolutions with promises, I just don’t see me breaking a promise, especially to myself. My problem with resolutions are that when I falter, I give me a hard time through my inner mafia, equal to a black eye and a few broken bones, and this would be where my inner editor would find a new life.

As far as my inner editor goes, over the years, I have subdued him but not yet succeeded in doing away with him totally. Still, he is bed-ridden and not breathing well, and it would be a mercy-killing if I got rid of him this year. Could this be a resolution? Maybe, but what if I can’t?

Where reading is concerned, it is covered. I read like a nut already. I have two kindles and a nook plus the flash drive with old stuff from Gutenberg.com, not to mention the books I check out from the library.

On the subject of writing, I write every day, true, but I have neglected free-flow writing during the last year. So, in the file in my computer, I’ll free write, even if for three minutes. And I won’t let this free-flow writing project get in the way of my everyday-writing project.

As to my everyday-writing project, on the days when real life gets in the way or my head just can’t come up with new material, I write a book review, review someone’s writing on WdC, write in my blog, or do all of the mentioned on the same day, time permitting. This has been my practice during the last couple of years, and I see no reason to change or add to it. It works as is.

Another resolution could be to write either to a prompt once a week or enter a contest on the site. After all, I did write a newsletter on writing to prompts. Shouldn’t I take my own advice?

Today, I saw a quote on the web. “A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there.” That could be pointing to a most important resolution. I like to write what I like to write in the genres I like to write, but would it kill me to try other avenues?

Looking over my shoulder, did I just make resolutions even if the wording is iffy? Yes, I did. Now, I better keep them or else…